Toilet water saving apparatus linkable with bidet, and water saving method thereof

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet, and a water saving method thereof. The water saving apparatus comprises branch tubes connected to the supply tube for supplying the washing water to the water reservoir and the bidet, respectively, a three-way valve installed to the branch tubes therebetween, and a urination water level sensor and a defecation water level sensor installed inside the water reservoir of the toilet for detecting a urination water level and a defecation water level. The three-way valve has a reservoir valve and a bidet valve for allowing the washing water to be selectively supplied to one or both of the bidet and the water reservoir. The bidet valve of the three-way valve is adapted to be opened or closed by a controller as a bidet button provided at the control pad is operated, and the reservoir valve of the three-way valve is adapted to be opened or closed by the controller according to the operation of a washing button or a supplement button provided at the control pad and according to signals from the urination water level sensor and the defecation water level sensor. The present invention results in prevention of unnecessary and significant consumption of water which is not required to flush urine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to a toilet water savingapparatus and method, and more particularly to a toilet water savingapparatus linkable with a bidet, and a water saving method thereof,which can allow the water volume used to flush a toilet to be adjustedaccording to the type of waste to be disposed, namely, according towhether the waste is urine or excrement, by means of a controllerprovided in the bidet as well as water level sensors provided in a waterreservoir of the toilet.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, conventional toilets consist of a bowl fitted with a hingedseat, and a water reservoir located behind the bowl so that it isconnected to a certain water supply facility for storing a constantvolume of water required to flush the toilet.

In such a conventional toilet, regardless of the type of waste to bedisposed, namely, according to whether the waste is urine or excrement,a predetermined volume of water is supplied from the water reservoir inorder to flush the toilet. When considering the fact that the frequencyof urination is higher than the frequency of defecation, theconventional toilet exhibits a problem in that it consumes significantvolumes of water which are not required to flush urine.

In order to prevent such waste of water, it has been conventionallytried to put a block or PET bottle into the water reservoir of thetoilet. Although this is somewhat effective to reduce the overall waterconsumption, it has less actual effect to control the water volume usedper flush according to the type of waste to be disposed.

Recently, the use of a bidet is on the rise. Such a bidet serves toallow the user to wash the genital and posterior parts without usingtoilet paper after urination or defecation, and to dry the washed partsby making use of blown air. The bidet has a washing nozzle, and a dryingnozzle, which are located below the toilet seat.

When using the bidet, in addition to the water volume required perflush, it requires an additional volume of water used to wash thegenital and posterior parts of the user, resulting in increase inconsumption of water.

In conclusion, using a constant volume of water regardless of the typeof waste to be disposed results in consumption of unnecessary andsignificant volumes of water in connection with the fact that thefrequency of urination is higher than the frequency of defecation.Flushing toilets is the major consumption activity in most homes, andnowadays, such waste of water in connection with toilets reaches adangerous level unsuitable to many countries suffering from a lack ofwater.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the aboveproblems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide atoilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet, and a water savingmethod thereof, the bidet being installed to a toilet for the washing ofthe genital and posterior parts of the user after urination ordefecation, wherein the apparatus and method enable the water volumecharged in a water reservoir of the toilet to be adjusted according tothe type of waste to be disposed so that a small volume of water issupplied to flush urine, and a large volume of water is supplied toflush excrement, resulting in prevention of unnecessary and significantconsumption of water which is not required to flush urine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet installed with abidet for explaining a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with thebidet in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a toilet water saving apparatuslinkable with a bidet in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the toilet watersaving apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a toilet watersaving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a toilet watersaving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a fourth embodiment of a toilet watersaving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a fifth embodiment of a toilet watersaving apparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, the configuration of preferred embodiments of the present inventionwill be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a toilet installed with abidet for explaining a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with thebidet in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagramillustrating a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with a bidet inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is aflow chart illustrating the operation of the toilet water savingapparatus linkable with a bidet in accordance with the first embodimentof the present invention;

-   -   Referring to FIG. 1 illustrating a toilet 30, which is installed        with a bidet 40, comprises a bowl fitted with a hinged seat 34,        and a water reservoir 33 positioned behind the bowl. The water        reservoir 33 is connected to a certain water supply facility by        means of a supply tube 31, and is adapted to store a constant        volume of water required to flush the toilet 30.

The bidet 40 is mounted to the seat 34 of the toilet 30 so that awashing nozzle 37 and a drying nozzle 38 thereof are positioned belowthe toilet seat 34. Such a bidet 40 serves to allow the user to wash thegenital and posterior parts of the body using washing water 32, insteadof toilet paper, after urination or defecation, and to dry moisture onthe washed parts by using blown air. The bidet 40 is provided laterallywith a control pad 36, on which a plurality of operating buttons arearranged.

In the present invention, in order to save the washing water 32, in caseof urination as well as in the majority of the time, the volume of thewashing water 32 charged inside the water reservoir 33 of the toilet 30is maintained at a urination water level (SL), which is half of a highwater level of the water reservoir 33. On the contrary, in case ofdefecation, the volume of the washing water 32 is maintained at adefecation water level (LL), which corresponds to the high water level.In this way, the volume of the washing water 32 inside the waterreservoir 33 is adjustable according to the type of waste to bedisposed, namely, according to whether the waste is urine or excrement.

For enabling such an adjustment in the volume of the washing water 32,to the supply tube 31 is connected a pair of branch tubes 41 forsupplying the washing water 32 to the bidet 40, and the water reservoir33. Between the branch tubes 41, a three-way valve 42 is installed forallowing the washing water 32 to be selectively supplied to one or bothof the bidet 40 and the water reservoir 33.

Inside the water reservoir 33 are installed a urination water levelsensor 43 and a defecation water level sensor 44 for detecting theurination water level (SL) and the defecation water level (LL),respectively. In this case, the three-way valve 42 is designed to beopened or closed according to signals from the urination water levelsensor 43 and the defecation water level sensor 44, and according to theoperation of a washing button 45 or a supplement button 46 provided atthe control pad 36 of the bidet 40.

The three-way valve 42 has a reservoir valve 47 installed at the side ofthe branch tube 41 connected to the water reservoir 33, and a bidetvalve 52 installed at the side of the branch tube 41 connected to thebidet 40. In order to fulfill the urination water level (SL) required incase of urination as well as in the majority of the time, the reservoirvalve 47 of the three-way valve 42 is opened or closed according to thesignals from the urination water level sensor 43.

That is, in case of urination as well as in the majority of the time,the reservoir valve 47 is opened to supply the washing water 32 into thewater reservoir 33 until the urination water level sensor 43 detects theurination water level (SL), and then as soon as the washing water 32reaches the urination water level (SL), the reservoir valve 47 is closedby means of a controller 50 provided in the control pad 36. Afterdefecation, as the washing button 45 or the supplement button 46 of thecontrol pad 36 is pressed, the reservoir valve 47 is opened for allowingthe washing water 32 to be charged into the water reservoir 33 until thedefecation water level sensor 44 detects the defecation water level(LL).

Meanwhile, if a bidet button 51 provided at the control pad 36 ispressed for the washing of the genital and posterior parts of the user,the bidet valve 52 of the three-way valve 42 is opened by the controller50 for enabling the use of the bidet 40.

In an initial state wherein the water reservoir 33 is empty, as thebidet 40 is operated, and the supply tube 31 is opened, if the urinationwater level sensor 43 installed inside the water reservoir 33 fails todetect the urination water level (SL), the controller 50 of the bidet 40is operated to open the reservoir valve 47 of the three-way valve 42connected to the branch tubes 41 in order to charge the washing water 32into the water reservoir 33, and then to close the reservoir valve 47 assoon as the urination water level sensor 43 detects the urination waterlevel (SL).

In such a closed state thereof, the reservoir valve 47 is kept in astandby mode by the controller 50.

After urination, if the bidet button 51 of the control pad 36 ispressed, the controller 50 is operated to open the bidet valve 52 forallowing the washing of the genital and posterior parts of the user, andthen to again close it after completion of washing. As a result of suchwashing, the washing water 32 is discharged from the water reservoir 33,and thus the urination water level sensor 43 no longer detects thewashing water 32. In such a state, the controller 50 is operated toagain open the reservoir valve 47, thereby allowing the washing water 32to be charged to the urination water level (SL). After reaching theurination water level (SL), the reservoir valve 47 again enters to thestandby mode.

After defecation, if the washing button 45 of the control pad 36 ispressed, the controller 50 is operated to open the reservoir valve 47 sothat the washing water 32 is further charged until the defecation waterlevel sensor 44 detects the defecation water level (LL) sufficient toflush excrement.

Alternatively, even when the supplement button 46 of the control pad 36is pressed, the same operation as the above is performed in order tocharge the washing water 32 into the water reservoir 33 to thedefecation water level (LL).

After the washing water 32 is discharged from the water reservoir 33 toflush excrement, and thus lowered from the defecation water level (LL),the controller 50 is operated to open the reservoir valve 47 in order tocharge the washing water 32 into the water reservoir 33 until theurination water level sensor 43 detects the urination water level (SL).Then, the reservoir valve 47 is closed and enters to the standby mode.

Referring to FIG. 4 illustrating a second embodiment of the presentinvention, to a supply tube 31 a is installed a reservoir inlet tube 60for supplying the washing water 32 to the water reservoir 33, and abidet inlet tube 61 for supplying the washing water 32 to the bidet 40.These inlet tubes 60 and 61 are independently operable, and thus areservoir valve 47 a and a bidet valve 52 a are installed to thereservoir inlet tube 60 and the bidet inlet tube 61, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 5 illustrating a third embodiment of the presentinvention, a supply tube 31 b is used to supply the washing water 32 tothe water reservoir 33, and a bidet inlet tube 71 is connected to acertain point of the supply tube 31 b for supplying the washing water 32to the bidet 40. The bidet inlet tube 71 has a bidet valve 70.

The supply tube 31 b is provided with a hand-operated valve 72 at acertain position between the bidet valve 70 and the water reservoir 33.In case of interruption of electric power, according to the selection ofthe user, the hand-operated valve 72 is operated to manually open orclose the supply tube 31 b in order to charge the washing water 32 intothe water reservoir 33.

Under normal conditions, in order to allow the washing water 32 to becharged automatically into the water reservoir 33, to the supply tube 31b is connected a bypass tube 75, which extends around the hand-operatedvalve 72. In this case, a reservoir valve 73 is installed to the bypasstube 75.

The bidet valve 70 and the reservoir valve 72 are opened or closed bythe controller 50 as the washing button 45 or the supplement button 46of the control pad 36 is selectively pressed.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, a seat sensor 80 may be provided inthe toilet seat 34 in order to detect whether the user is seated. If theseat sensor 80 detects that the user has been seated for a predeterminedtime, the controller 50 determines such a state as defecation, and thusopens the reservoir valve 73 so that the washing water 32 is chargedinto the water reservoir 33 to the defecation water level (LL).

Referring to FIG. 6 illustrating a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention, to a supply tube 31 c is installed a three-way pump 93, whichhas a single inlet 90, and two outlets 91 and 92. To the outlets 91 and92 of the three-way pump 93 are connected a bidet inlet tube 94 and areservoir inlet tube 95 for supplying the washing water 32 to the bidet40 and the water reservoir 33, respectively. Thereby, as the washingbutton 45 and the supplement button 46 of the control pad 36 provided atthe control pad 35 of the bidet 40 are selectively pressed, thethree-way pump 93 is selectively opened or closed by the controller 50.

Referring to FIG. 7 illustrating a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention, to a reservoir inlet pipe 100 for supplying the washing water32 to the water reservoir 33 is installed a flow rate sensor 101.According to signals from the flow rate sensor 101 informing whether thedetected flow rate is suitable to flush urine or excrement, thecontroller 50 is operated to open or close the reservoir valve 47,thereby adjusting the volume of the washing water 32 inside the waterreservoir 33 to the defecation water level (LL) or urination water level(SL).

In this way, the water saving apparatus of the present invention can beinstalled in a simplified manner without structural change of currentlyused toilets or bidets. The water saving apparatus is designed to reducewater consumption by approximately 50% per urination. Especially, whenconsidering the fact that the frequency of urination is higher than thefrequency of defecation, the present invention assures that thefrequency of use is higher, a great deal of water can be saved.

Further, the water saving apparatus of the present invention, even incase of interruption of electric power, can be operated using thehand-operated valve so as to manually supply the washing water to thereservoir as usual.

Although the above description relates to various toilet water savingapparatuses linkable with the bidet 40, it will be clearly understoodthat the present invention is applicable without the bidet 40. In thiscase, the water saving apparatus comprises a pipe and valve for use inthe supply of the washing water 32 into the water reservoir 33, and acontrol pad provided at the toilet 30.

As apparent from the above description, in conclusion, the presentinvention provides a toilet water saving apparatus linkable with abidet, and a water saving method thereof. The bidet is installed to atoilet for the washing of the genital and posterior parts of the userafter urination or defecation. The water saving apparatus and method ofthe present invention enable the water volume charged in a waterreservoir of the toilet to be adjusted according to the type of waste tobe disposed so that a small volume of water is supplied to flush urine,and a large volume of water is supplied to flush excrement, resulting inprevention of unnecessary and significant consumption of water which isnot required to flush urine.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A water saving method for a toilet, which is linkable with a bidet,the toilet comprising: a water reservoir connected to a certain watersupply facility by means of a supply tube for storing a constant volumeof washing water required to flush the toilet; and a toilet seatprovided in front of the water reservoir, the bidet comprising: awashing nozzle and a drying nozzle located below the seat for enablingwashing and drying of the genital and posterior parts of the user afterurination or defecation; and a control pad having a plurality ofoperating buttons, wherein: in the majority of the time as well as incase of urination, the washing water inside the water reservoir of thetoilet is maintained at a urination water level suitable to flush urine,the urination water level being half of a high water level; and in caseof defecation, as a washing button or supplement button provided at thecontrol pad of the bidet is pressed, the washing water inside the waterreservoir is maintained at a defecation water level corresponding to thehigh water level, whereby the water saving method allows the volume ofthe washing water to be adjusted according to the type of waste to bedisposed, namely, according to whether the waste is urine or excrement.2. A water saving apparatus for a toilet, which is linkable with abidet, the toilet comprising: a water reservoir connected to a certainwater supply facility by means of a supply tube for storing a constantvolume of washing water required to flush the toilet; and a toilet seatprovided in front of the water reservoir, the bidet comprising: awashing nozzle and a drying nozzle located below the seat for enablingwashing and drying of the genital and posterior parts of the user afterurination or defecation; and a control pad having a plurality ofoperating buttons, and a controller, wherein the water saving apparatuscomprises; supply means for selectively supplying the washing water toone or both of the water reservoir and the bidet, and allowing thewashing water inside the water reservoir to be maintained at a urinationwater level or a defecation water level; and sensor means for detectingthe levels of the washing water charged inside the water reservoir. 3.The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the supply meansincludes: branch tubes connected to the supply tube for supplying thewashing water to the water reservoir and the bidet, respectively; and athree-way valve installed to the branch tubes therebetween, and having areservoir valve and a bidet valve for allowing the washing water to beselectively supplied to one or both of the bidet and the waterreservoir, and wherein the sensor means includes: a urination waterlevel sensor installed inside the water reservoir of the toilet fordetecting the urination water level, which is half of a high waterlevel; and a defecation water level sensor installed inside the waterreservoir of the toilet for detecting the defecation water level, whichcorresponds to the high water level.
 4. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 3, wherein the bidet valve of the three-way valve is adapted to beopened or closed by the controller as a bidet button provided at thecontrol pad is operated, and wherein the reservoir valve of thethree-way valve is adapted to be opened or closed by the controlleraccording to the operation of a washing button provided at the controlpad and according to signals from the urination water level sensor andthe defecation water level sensor.
 5. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 3, wherein the reservoir valve of the three-way valve is adaptedto be opened or closed by the controller according to the operation of asupplement button provided at the control pad and according to signalsfrom the urination water level sensor and the defecation water levelsensor.
 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the supplymeans includes: a reservoir inlet tube and a bidet inlet tube, which areindependently installed to the supply tube for supplying the washingwater to the water reservoir and the bidet, respectively; and areservoir valve and a bidet valve installed to the reservoir inlet tubeand the bidet inlet tube, respectively.
 7. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the supply means includes: the supply tube used tosupply the washing water to the water reservoir; a bidet inlet tubeconnected to the supply tube for supplying the washing water to thebidet, and having a bidet valve; a hand-operated valve installed on thesupply tube between the bidet valve and the water reservoir for allowingthe washing water to be charged into the water reservoir even in case ofinterruption of electric power; and a bypass tube connected to thesupply tube so as to extend around the hand-operated valve, and having areservoir valve for allowing the washing water to be charged into thewater reservoir under normal conditions.
 8. The apparatus as set forthin claim 2, wherein the supply means includes: a three-way pumpconnected to the supply tube, and having a single inlet, and twooutlets; and a bidet inlet tube and a reservoir inlet tube connected tothe outlets of the three-way pump for supplying the washing water to thebidet and the water reservoir, respectively.
 9. The apparatus as setforth in claim 2, wherein the supply means includes: a reservoir inlettube for supplying the washing water to the water reservoir, thereservoir inlet tube having a reservoir valve, and wherein the sensormeans includes a flow rate sensor installed to the reservoir inlet tube,according to signals from the flow rate sensor, the controller beingoperated to open or close the reservoir valve, thereby maintaining thewashing water inside the water reservoir at the urination water level ordefecation water level.
 10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2,further comprising: a seat sensor provided in the seat for detectingwhether the user is seated, as the seat sensor detects that the user hasbeen seated for a predetermined time, the controller considers such astate as defecation, and thus opens a reservoir valve so that thewashing water is charged into the water reservoir to the defecationwater level.
 11. A water saving apparatus for a toilet, the toiletcomprising: a water reservoir connected to a certain water supplyfacility by means of a supply tube for storing a constant volume ofwashing water required to flush the toilet; and a toilet seat providedin front of the water reservoir, wherein the water saving apparatuscomprises; supply means for supplying the washing water to the waterreservoir, and allowing the washing water inside the water reservoir tobe maintained at the urination water level or defecation water level;sensor means for detecting the levels of the washing water chargedinside the water reservoir; and a control pad installed to the toilet.